Lagos bus driver goes to jail for 14 years with hard labour over attempted theft of Nokia phone

A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, has sentenced a bus driver Suleiman Olasoda to 14 years imprisonment with hard labour for attempted armed robbery.

Olasoda is to serve his jail term at the Kirikiri Correctional Center, Lagos.

The judgement sentencing the defendant was delivered on Monday by Justice Oyindamola Ogala after the defendant agreed to the terms of the plea bargain proposed by the Lagos State Government.

The court read the terms of agreement that the defendant had entered into with the state and inquired if he was forced to accept the agreement, to which the defendant answered that he was not forced.

Justice Ogala said, “In pursuant to the plea agreement dated November 27, the defendant is to serve a sentence of 14 years imprisonment which will commence from the date of remand in October 2016.”

The defendant had pleaded guilty to the amended charge, read and translated in Yoruba Language, for attempted robbery which occurred on September 18, 2016.

During the trial, the prosecution called three witnesses and the defendant opted for a plea bargain. The Lagos State Prosecutor, Mrs Uju Nwogazi, said that the defendant, a 29-year-old bus driver, was arrested while attempting to rob one Adedeji Oluwaseun of his Nokia phone.

Mrs Nwogazi added that the facts adduced, in addition to the evidence before the court were sufficient to prove the offences beyond reasonable doubt.

The defence counsel, Mr Kevin Okereke, did not object to the submission of the prosecution.